SW Washington Communities United for Change, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)-Lower Columbia, Social Justice Committee of Longview United Methodist Church, S.T.R.I.V.E Clark County WA and several other organizations are asking our local and regional community members take ACTION NOW in response to another act of POLICE VIOLENCE against our Black commUNITY in Vancouver, WA. It is with immeasurable despair that our community is burdened with the untimely death of a BLACK SON, FATHER, BROTHER, UNCLE, COUSIN.

https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/oct/30/kevin-e-peterson-was-father-former-union-high-school-football-player/ (October 29, 2020) and https://www.terryfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituary/Carlos-Hunter (March 7, 2019).

Our organizations call for explicit initiatives and we ask that you will take ACTION in solidarity with us! We demand our local City and County Governments, Regional Representatives, and Leaders to represent “all citizenry” by seeking JUSTICE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY to our community including including a thorough investigation:

1.   Demilitarizing The Police:

Immediate Harm Reduction: Restructuring of “Use of Force” by the Police; Demilitarization of the Local and County Police Department; and Review Police Contracts.

2.   Defunding The Police:

Comprehensive Community Safety Plan: Divest from Police; Dramatically Reduce Jail & Prison Populations; Restorative Justice.

3.   Investing in Communities of Color

Abolition: Fund Community Safety; Move Money to Alternatives; Resource Healthy Community Practices & Needs.  

If you would like more information please feel free to contact SWCUC at 360-762-1451. thank you for supporting our movement...

Your letter will notify City of Vancouver Officials, 49^th Legislative District Senators and Legislator, The Attorney General, and Governor of Washington State that our commUNITY need swift and immediate ACTION from elected officials.

Solidarity!